De Fehr, Cornelius Abraham (1881-1979)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1979 Mar 02 p. 33

Birth date: 1881 Oct 06

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS ABRAHAM DEFEHR

On February 11, the Lord took to himself Cornelius A. DeFehr of Winnipeg, a faithful ervant, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was born on October 6, 1881 , in the village of Einlage, in southern Russia, to Abraham and Helena (nee Peters) DeFehr. When Cornelius was seven his parents move to Petrowka, where he received his few years of formal education in a Russian school. As a 14 year old, through Bible studies conducted by Jakob Reimer nd Abram Wall, Cornelius became one of a number who responded to the call of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was converted and aptized, joining the Mennonite Brethren hurch in Petrowka. In Petrowka he also met Elizabeth Dyck, the daughter of Elder William Dyck, whom he married on November 13, 903 . Soon after, they moved to Millerowo, where six children were born to them, though wo of them died in infancy. In Millerowo, Cornelius became a partner n a rapidly growing firm building farm mplements, together with his brother-in-law Cornelius Martens and his father-in-law William Dyck. It operated under the name Martens, DeFehr and Dyck. The outbreak of he First World War in 1914 was the start of ifficult times for them, eventuating in the evolution, the typhus epidemic-which ef ected Cornelius as well-flight from Mil erowo, finding a new home in the Kuban egion of Russia, meeting the challenges of unger, anarchy and civil strife, until the ecision was made to find a new home in Canada. The fam y came to Canada n September 11, 925 and made heir first home in Gnadenthal, in outhern Mani oba. Cornelius oon began to lay he foundation for he family business nterprise. His hree sons and son n-law joined him nd they prospered. He also gave himself enerously to the Lord's service within his ome church, in the conference and through Mennonite Central Committee (and its pred cessor boards in Canada) to the larger Men onite brotherhood. He took part in the build ngupofthe MCI at Gretna, to the MBCI , the Mennonite Brethren Bible College, the work f the Gideons and the Canadian Bible ociety, the Christian Press and numerous ther church causes. In 1947 and for a umber of years after he was intimately nvolved in the development of new settle ments for Mennonite refugees from Europe o Paraguay. He was a Christian trailblazer who combined faith with practice. He and his wife were privileged to celebrate heir silver, golden, diamond and finally their 5th wedding anniversary before she went to e with the Lord on March 23 , 1972. His nly daughter to reach adulthood, Liese ast, passed away in 1976. H is death is mourned by three sons and t heir wives, Abe nd Velma, Cornelius and Agatha and William nd Erna; 16 grandchildren and 34 great randchildren; one sister, Greta Reimer, in he Soviet Union, and many friends. Another sister passed away i~91J~~ o»!x. !-!(o . s before him. ' ,,"~~." '- ' The funeral 'service was observed Febmai-y 15 from the Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church with Henry Brucks of Winnipeg and Dr. John B. Toews of Fresno ministering. Interment was in the Elmwood cemetery.